Technics SL-1210GR2, 4th Generation of the classic

In the late 1980s, a young DJ from the world of radio took to the stage with an ECLER mixer and a pair of LENCO turntables. His legs and hands were shaking. In front of him were two hundred people eager to enjoy a big party on a date as important in my country as San Juan. I enjoyed it and suffered in equal measure, although I seem to remember that it was a success. I was a month away from turning 16, and that was my baptism of fire in the nightclubs.

The years passed, and so did the nightclubs and the DJ booths, and I was never able to fulfill my dream of enjoying the best thing at that time, a pair of Technics SL-1200 turntables. It wasn't until I turned 20 that my dream came true.

With this post, I'm sure it's clear to you that for me, a Technics is not just any turntable. In order to write this review, I had to remove another monster from its privileged place, the EMT 948. I wanted to share my dreams in the same paragraph and in the same place so that you can understand a little better what comes next.

Music saves music. This idea struck me instantly when I was researching today's protagonist and read that one of the fundamental improvements made to this analog system was the application of knowledge acquired in the development of integrated amplifiers.

The GR2 is the company's fourth generation of turntables, and the main improvement made to it is the platter drive with highly accurate PWM generation technology and delta-sigma conversion to reduce drive signal errors. This precise technique helps to reduce small rotational inaccuracies and vibrations per minute that cannot be picked up by speed fluctuations (wobble and vibration) or signal-to-noise ratios. As a result, vibrations per minute appear as reverse phase components in the audio signals and obscure the sound image.

Another feature that goes more unnoticed is the increase in the weight of the platter by 800 grams, reaching 2.5 kilos, and its multi-layer aluminum and double-layer rubber construction to minimize the transmission of vibrations to the record and, therefore, to the phono cartridge.

I would like to add to these features that this device comes factory-set with an optimal preset for heavy-duty DJ use, so I recommend changing it to suit your needs. Just below the platter, which must be removed carefully so as not to damage the delicate large magnet it contains, there are two variators, Brake and Torque (starting torque). They are set for strong braking and quick start-up. I sincerely believe that in our case, setting both to the minimum is the most careful way to treat our precious vinyl records.

Equipment used in testing

Sound source:
» Technics SL-1210GR2
Power amplification:
» Cambridge Audio EVO 75
» iFi Audio Zen Air Phono
Speakers:
» Legacy Audio Signature
» RadioTehnika Giant FS-100N
Cables:
» Wires4Music for wiring:
    » Horus Hybrid RCA interconnect
    » Evolution on speakers and mains
Custom rack

Adjusting an analog system is a real headache. And at the same time, it is an endless source of sound sensations that follow you and haunt you constantly. Adjusting a tonearm and a cartridge is an experience that can take a lifetime. Not so much from the point of view of achieving the optimum or following the recommendations of the various manufacturers, that's another matter. I'm referring to the way you can play with the sound obtained by slightly modifying the weights on the needle, the linearity of the tracking and trying to discern whether, in the final steps of the vinyl, it is well adjusted and does not force the tracking further to the right or left, giving an incorrect sound result. You can really get lost in this, although at the same time, for the most demanding people, it is possible to adjust an analog system to the point of obsession. Digital systems are still a long way from this level of customization. I'm talking about the present; we'll see how this evolves in the future, since digitally we are still in the early 1980s of turntables. I think we all understand what I mean by this comment.

So far, I have focused heavily on the technical aspects of the turntable for a good reason. And I say this sincerely, as this should never be lost between the writer and their readers. All the sensations and characteristics of the sound that I am going to discuss below must take into account one fundamental point, which is the following: The turntable, cartridge, and phono preamp were all new to me. Therefore, to say that the sound is due to one or the other is simply fantasy, and that's not my style.

Simple Minds / In the city of lights

I've talked about nostalgia, so it's only fitting to share what I was listening to at the time. Here's a concert that this legendary band played in Paris. Seeing it spin with that blue-black light is something that stirs my stomach and makes me lose what little judgment I have left in this life. It's my youth, my dreams and... my band and my turntable. Technics SL-1200 MK2 was always mine and I never had it. With the fourth generation of the family in my living room, I realize that I wasn't wrong and that this is an extraordinary machine that can be matched, even improved, but at a crazy price. The concert-like clarity of sound, with its "lost" frequency edges, with its impactful entries thanks to the drums being struck with rhythmic softness or force. That added atmosphere that the analog world gives compared to the digital world... For my taste, being someone who is mainly focused on the digital music environment, the sound lacked a little brightness and was a little dull. And as I mentioned at the beginning, thanks to the ability to adjust many of the parameters that analog offers, I reduced the weight of the needle a little, slightly less than recommended by the manufacturer, Ortofon, and I liked the result better.

This configuration produced a little more noise and crackling, although in my opinion, it was a price I was happy to pay in order to adjust the sound to my liking. Never be intimidated by exact metrics or manufacturer data. Use them as a great reference to help you in your work, and nothing more. Always trust your ears, even if they are wrong, they are your gateway to music. We don't have another one.

I listened to the same side of the record over and over again for a good cause. There is one thing that depends solely on the turntable and can be easily discerned and separated from the rest of the components in terms of sound quality. Record companies, knowing that in most cases vinyl users do not have high-performance turntables, use the central part of the vinyl to put their most relevant or important tracks. They leave the first part for those who need more dynamics and the end for more relaxed compositions. Poor calibration of the tone arm movement or skating can cause one channel to sound louder than the other at the end of the record, as one side of the groove rubs more than the other, or the needle "jumps" a groove. Anti-skating is the solution, but it can become a problem if it acts too aggressively, causing the first problem mentioned above, i.e., incorrect channel signals.

The result was total balance between the beginning and end of the vinyl record; there was no way to locate any possible errors. This is entirely to the credit of the turntable.

The Technics SL-1210GR2's decoupling feet are a hallmark of the brand and, at the same time, a marvel of effectiveness. Coming from the professional world, the need to quickly adjust the turntable's level and get it just right is not an option but a necessity. And in this regard, it excels.

Some of the features it offers, as you can imagine, are not part of our hobby, such as pitch or speed adjustment. Do any of you want to listen to your vinyl records at a speed that is not exactly right?

When a product with such outstanding features comes onto the market, it's no surprise that everyone wants to enjoy it. The Technics SL-1210GR2 is a professional turntable with professional features that can be easily adjusted to the needs of the home user, resulting in an excellent product at an affordable price.

With a design that has been widely copied by many competitors, it lacks the air of exclusivity that other creations have. However, the sound has everything, and more.

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